Since the northeast monsoon has begun, an orange alert has been issued for several districts in Tamil Nadu. Similarly, a heavy rain warning has also been issued for Puducherry and Karaikal. Accordingly, Puducherry turned into a flood zone after the torrential rain that lashed it last night.
Whenever it rains in Puducherry, the first areas to be affected are Kamarajar Nagar constituency and the areas under it, including Krishna Nagar, Rainbow Nagar, Venkateswara Nagar, and Kavikkuyil Nagar. Even if it rains continuously for just one night, water accumulates inside the houses in that area.
If it turns into heavy rain, the area will be cut off to the extent that rescue operations have to be carried out by boat. The reason is that it is a low-lying area. Accordingly, the Kamarajar Nagar constituency turned into a flood zone in the rain that fell last night.
Following that, a resident of the Kamarajar Nagar constituency speaking on the “Pandi Junction” Insta page said, “Brother Jose Charles Martin… you are the MLA of this constituency. Good night, brother. I think you are sleeping peacefully. But I don’t know whether we can sleep.
Because within half an hour of the rain, water had entered the house. Tonight, our job will be to pump out the water inside the house all night long. I have met you in person three times and submitted petitions saying that water comes into the house like this during the rainy season.
You did not take any action on that. After winning, you did not even come to this area. We do not even know whether you are in this town. If we come looking for you at your office, they say, “Sir has gone out.”
It was our mistake to vote for someone who lives outside the area. I had already told you the two main reasons why rainwater accumulates in this area. One is that this is a low-lying area. The other is clearing the canal.
You also said you would clear it. After that, they came to do the clearing. But we do not know whether they are deceiving you by saying they have cleared it, or whether you are deceiving us.
In the past, when it rained, water would take some time to accumulate. Now, water stands all over the road immediately. Even during storms, we used to see less water. But when we see so much water after just half an hour of rain, it is very difficult for us," he said.
Following that, MLA Jose Charles, who had posted in the video’s comment section, said, ''I am in Puducherry, bro. But why don’t you ask the same question to our honorable Chief Minister Rangasamy, who has been in power for more than the past 20 years?
Are you afraid to ask questions to him, who sent back more than Rs. 2,000 crore without using the Smart City funds? The government allocates Rs. 3 crore for an MLA constituency.
But I have not yet received that amount. Even so, for the Kamarajar Nagar constituency, I have spent Rs. 4 crore from my own money so far. Cleaning work is continuing. But you have no common sense at all. You are dumping plastic waste again into the drains we cleaned.
Last time alone, we removed waste from the canals equivalent to 9 tractor loads. Likewise, cleaning work is continuing now as well. All these places were once lakes and ponds.
You have illegally obtained permissions and built your house there. But instead of asking the Chief Minister, you are asking a Member of the Legislative Assembly. A pat on the back for your common sense!" he retorted sharply.
Following that, some people have been posting comments in his support, saying, “That’s a sensible answer, sir. People misuse every good thing and then blame others when they have to face the consequences.”
At the same time, objections are also being posted there. In particular, “Speak respectfully to the people of the constituency, like a Member of the Legislative Assembly. It is hard to believe that you spent Rs. 4 crore from your own money.
You didn’t even spend that much. Why should he go and question the Chief Minister? You are the MLA of the Kamarajar Nagar constituency. Treat the people with respect,' one person said, and 'People are not asking who is more responsible or who spent more money.
Despite years of governance and development work, why are we still suffering from flood damage? That is their simple question,' constituency residents have been posting responses to MLA Jose Charles Martin.